SECTION 11 – OTHER RULES

11.A.    Double Hits. Balls can be hit twice, but this must occur during an unintentional,
continuous, single-direction stroke, by one player. If the stroke made while performing
the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. or during a rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. is deliberately not continuous, or not in a single direction, or
the ball is struck by a second player, it is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally..

11.B.      Switching Hands. A paddle may be switched from hand to hand at any time.

11.C.      Two-Handed Shots. Two-handed shots are allowed.

11.D.      Missed Shot. A player completely missing the ball when attempting to strike it does not create a dead ballA ball that is no longer in play.. The ball remains in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score. until it bounces twice or until any other faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. has occurred.

11.E.      Broken or Cracked Ball. If a referee is present, players may appeal to the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. before the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. occurs to determine if a ball is broken or cracked. If the appeal is before the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. occurs, the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. will call “Time”, inspect the ball, and either replace it or return it into play. The refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. will recall the score. In non-officiated matches, players may replace a cracked ball before the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. occurs. If any player suspects the ball is or becomes cracked after the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally., play must continue until the end of the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault.. If, in the judgment of the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court., a broken or cracked ball impacted the outcome of a rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault., the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. will call for a replayAny rally that is restarted for any reason without the awarding of a point or a change of server. with a replacement ball. In non-officiated play, if the players do not agree that a cracked ball impacted the outcome of the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault., the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. stands as played.

11.F.    Injury During RallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault.. The rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. continues to its conclusion despite an injury to any of the players.

11.G.      Player Equipment Problem. A rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. will not be stopped if a player loses or breaks a paddle or loses an item, unless the action results in a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally..

11.H.   Items on the CourtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines.. If any item a player is/was wearing or carrying lands on their end of the courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines., unless the item lands in the non-volley zoneThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) as a result of a volleyDuring a rally, a strike of the ball out of the air before the ball has bounced., the ball remains in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score. even if it hits the item.

11.I.    Plane of the NetThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system.. Crossing the plane of the netThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system. prior to striking the ball is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally.. After striking the ball, a player or anything the player is/was wearing or carrying may cross the plane of the netThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system.. The player may not touch any part of the net system, the opponent’s courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines., or the opponent while the ball is still in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score..

11.I.1.  Exception: If the ball bounces into a receiving player’s courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. with enough backspin or wind aid to cause it to return back over the net, the receiving player may cross the plane of the netThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system. (over, under or around the net post) to hit the ball. It is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. if the receiving player (or anything the receiving player is wearing or carrying) crosses the plane of the netThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system. before the ball has first crossed back over the plane of the netThe imaginary vertical planes on all sides extending beyond the net system. to the opponent’s side. It is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. if the player touches the net system, the opponent’s courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines., or the opponent while the ball is still in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score..

11.J.     Distractions. Players may not distract an opponent when the opponent is about to play the ball. If in the judgment of the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. a distractionPhysical actions by a player that are ‘not common to the game’ that, in the judgment of the referee, may interfere with the opponent’s ability or concentration to hit the ball. Examples include, but are not limited to, making loud noises, stomping feet, waving the paddle in a distracting manner or otherwise interfering with the opponent’s concentration or ability to... has occurred, the refereeAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. shall immediately call a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. on the offending team.

11.K.    The Net PostsAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.. The net postsAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. (including connected wheels, arms, or other support construction) are positioned outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... of bounds.

11.K.1.   It is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. if a player contacts the net post while the ball is in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score..

11.K.2.   A ball contacting the net, the net cable, or rope between the net postsAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. remains in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score..

11.L.       The Net.

11.L.1.   The net and the wires or strings holding up the net are positioned (mostly) on the courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines.. Therefore, if the ball strikes the top of the net or strikes the top net wire or string and lands inbounds, it remains in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score..

11.L.2.   If the ball travels between the net and the net post, it is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. against the striking player.

11.L.3.   A player is allowed to go around the net post and cross the imaginary extensionA term used to describe where a line would extend if it projected beyond its current end point. Players and referees are to project where the line would extend if it were not limited to the boundaries of the playing area. line of the net after hitting the ball, so longA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... as the player or any item he or she is/was wearing or carrying does not touch the opponent’s courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines.. If the player goes around the net post and crosses the imaginary extensionA term used to describe where a line would extend if it projected beyond its current end point. Players and referees are to project where the line would extend if it were not limited to the boundaries of the playing area. line of the net but does not make contact with the ball, a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. will be declared.

11.L.4.  If a player hits the ball over the net into the opponent’s courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines., and then the ball bounces back over the net and bounces a second time without being touched by the opponent, the striking player wins the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault..

11.L.5.  For net systems with a horizontal bar or a center base, or both:

11.L.5.a. Before going over the net, if the ball hits the horizontal bar or the center base, it is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally..

11.L.5.b. Except on the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally., a replayAny rally that is restarted for any reason without the awarding of a point or a change of server. will occur if the ball goes over the net and:
– hits the center base
– hits any part of the horizontal bar
– the ball gets caught between the net and the horizontal bar
– hits a deflecting net
– hits a draping net on the ground
Except on the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally., if the ball goes over the net, bounces on the courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines., and then performs any of the above listed actions, a replayAny rally that is restarted for any reason without the awarding of a point or a change of server. shall occur.

11.L.5.c.  On the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally., if the ball hits the horizontal bar or the center base or gets caught between the net and horizontal bar after going over the net, it is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally..

11.L.5.d. Any malfunction of a net system during play shall be considered a hinderAny transient element or occurrence not caused by a player that adversely impacts play, not including permanent objects. Examples include, but are not limited to, balls, flying insects, foreign material, players or officials on another court that, in the opinion of the referee, impacted a player’s ability to make a play on the ball..

11.M.  Shots Around the Net Post. A player may return the ball around the outside of the net post.

11.M.1.  The ball does not need to travel back over the net.

11.M.2.  There is noA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... restriction on the height of the return, meaning a player may return the ball around the net post below the height of the net.

11.N.   One Paddle. A player shall not use or carryHitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but is carried along on the face of the paddle. more than one paddle during a rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault.. A violation of this rule is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally..

11.O.   Paddle Possession. A player must have possession of the paddle when it makes contact with the ball. A violation of this rule is a faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally.. (Exception see Rule 11.H).

11.P. Electronic Equipment. Players shall not wear or use any form of headphones or earbuds during competition play. Exception: Prescribed or necessary hearing aids are permitted.